Movable element wheeled action toy



March 8, 1966 w. P. DOE 3,238,665

MOVABLE ELEMENT WHEELED ACTION TOY Original Filed March 6, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WALTER P. DOE

MW lam his attorneys.

March 8, 1966 w DOE I 3,238,665

MOVABLE ELEMENT WHEELED ACTION TOY Original Filed March 6, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 2 7s 80 w 82 \IH I so 70 72 24 62 3%? I l I 5 6'0 72162 211INVENTOR.

WALTER P. DOE F|G.6

C W+ g mr his attorneys.

March 8, 1966 w. P. DOE 3,238,665

MOVABLE ELEMENT WHEELED ACTION TOY Original Filed March 6, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.7

INVENTOR.

WALTER P. DOE

his attorneys.

United States Patent G 3,238,665 MOVABLE ELEMENT WHEELED ACTION TOYWalter P. Doe, East Aurora, N.Y., assignor to Fisher- Price ToysIncorporated, East Aurora, N.Y., a corporation of New York Continuationof application Ser. No. 93,401, Mar. 6, 1961. This application June 22,1964, Ser. No. 379,762 9 Claims. (Cl. 46-107) This application is acontinuation of my copending application Ser. No. 93,401, filed March 6,1961 for Action Toy now abandoned.

This invention relates to action toys, and more particularly to toys ofthe type designed to be pulled or pushed across a supporting surface,such as a floor or the like, and having elements thereof which, whenactuated in response to such movement, produce a pleasant action ormovement of certain parts of the toy and at the same time produce aregular and pleasant sound, one object of the inv ntion being to providean improved toy of the above nature.

Another object is to provide a toy of the above character which willproduce the foregoing action and sounds when it is moved backwardly aswell as when it is moved forwardly.

Another object of the invention is to produce a toy having the aboveadvantages in which the action producing mechanism is simpler and easierto construct and more reliable and durable than mechanisms heretoforeknown.

Another object is to provide a toy of the above character in whichcertain parts are caused to move in unison and also relative to oneanother, thereby producing a more varied and interesting action thanwould otherwise be possible.

Another object is to provide a toy having the above advantages whichwill produce the desired sound effects in conjunction with imparting thedesired action to the movable members as the toy is moved eitherforwardly or backwardly.

In the past, sound producing mechanisms have been used in which a springfinger was made to alternately move into and out of contact with asounding member as by means of a gear or the like mounted on a shaft orother rotating part. However, these devices have not been particularlysatisfactory because the positioning of the spring was critical, and innormal play, the device was often thrown out of adjustment and did notwork satisfactorily. In addition to the disruption of the mechanismresulting from normal play, children were intrigued by the mechanism,and in examining the same, often managed to put it out of commission. Afurther disadvantage of these devices was the difficulty in shieldingthe device so that a child could not pinch his fingers or cut or scratchhimself against the sharp edges of the spring.

Another object is to provide a toy in which the sound producingmechanism does not require the usual elongated spring member, istamper-proof and reliable in operation, and which may be poked at andfreely examined by children, without damaging the mechanism or throwingit out of adjustment.

Another object is to provide a toy of the above character in which thesound producing mechanism is free from sharp projections, rough orotherwise potentially dangerous parts and is so constructed that a childcannot pinch and wedge his fingers in playing with the mechanism, andtherefore, is safe for use by young children.

Another object is to provide a toy having the above advantages in whichthe sound producing mechanism does not utilize the usual elongatedspring member.

Another object is to provide a toy having the above advantages which isdurable, reliable in operation, and requires a minimum number of partswhich may be readily and economically manufactured and assembled.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a toy embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the toy shown in FIG. '1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation substantially along the line33 in FIG. 1, showing the action and sound producing mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of portions of the actuatingmechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to FIG. 3, butshowing the actuating mechanism at substantially its fully depressedposition;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, and shows the actuating mechanism in itsnormal position with the action members separated;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5, and shows the position of the actuatingmechanism when the toy is moved in a direction opposite to thatillustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation substantially along the line 8-8 in FIG.6, showing the details of the head or second action member;

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed byway of illustration, is represented in the form of a small wheeledvehicle such as a race car shown generally at 20, wherein the head andportions of the drivers body are caused to move as the toy is propelled.However, it will be readily understood that the invention may beincorporated in any suitable type of wheeled toy and utilized to actuateany desired portion of the toy, racer 20 merely being shown for thepurposes of illustration.

Racer 20 preferably comprises a base or body portion 22 (FIG. 1) of woodor other suitable material which is shaped as shown in the drawings togive the desired appearance. Body portion 22 has side panel members 24secured thereto as by nails or other suitable means, although ifdesired, members 22 and 24 may be formed from a single block of wood ormay comprise a single plastic member. Racer 20 is provided with frontand rear axles 26 and 28, respectively, which are mounted in suitableholes (not shown) in body members 22 and 24. Axles 26 and 28 have wheelor hub members 30 fastened to the opposite ends thereof. Hub members 30are preferably of wood or other suitable material and in turn areadapted to receive and securely engage resilient tire members 32, whichare of rubber, polyethelene or other suitable plastic material.

The upper surface of body member 22 is formed with a recessed portion 34which simulates the cockpit of the racer and in which a simulated figureof a driver shown generally at 36, is positioned for movement, ashereinafter more fully described. A small windshield 38 (FIGS. 1 and 2)of plastic or other suitable material is mounted adjacent the forwardedge of the cockpit, while a rollover bar 40 of metal or the like ispositioned at the rear of the cockpit.

Driver 36 preferably comprises a first action portion shown generally at42 (FIG. 2) which is shaped to simulate the shoulders and arms 44 of thedriver and steering wheel 46 of the vehicle. Member 42 is formed with adepending circular flange 48 (FIG. 3) adjacent the rear portion thereofand an upwardly extending boss 50. Boss 50 is formed with a transverselyextending slot 52 (FIGS. 3, 7 and 8) which terminates short of the upperend thereof for receiving a simulated figurehead 54 which is preferablyof wood or other suitable material. A plastic helmet 56 is secured tohead 54 by means of a transversely extending rod or rivet 58 (FIG. 8)which also extends through slot 52 in boss 50 thereby mounting head 54on boss 50 for limited vertical movement relative thereto as shown by acomparison between FIGS. and 6. Head 54 forms a second action member andwill be caused to move with and relative to first action member 42 bymeans hereafter described.

Action member 42 is held in position on the toy by means of a limit pinor nail 60 (FIG. 3) which extends through the center of the steeringwheel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and by a vertically extending pin orrod 62 (FIG. 3) which extends upwardly through a portion of body member22, forwardly of rear axle 28, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6. Pin 62 ispreferably formed with a series of serrations or ridges adjacent theupper end thereof and is adapted to be driven or otherwise forced intoengagement with action member 42 and to securely grip the same. A coilspring 64 (FIG. 3) is positioned within flange 48 and bears at one endagainst a recess 66 formed in body portion 22, and at the other endagainst the undersurface of action member 42, as shown in FIG. 3. Spring64 urges action member 42, head portion 54 and associated parts upwardlyto their positions shown in FIG. 3.

Body member 22 is formed with a recess 68 (FIGS. 3, 5-7) adjacent thecenter thereof and adjacent the area through which rear axle 28 extends.Recess 68 extends upwardly above the axle, as well as forwardly andrearwardly thereof as shown in FIG. 4. A second recess 70 is formedforwardly of recess 68 and interconnects therewith at a point forwardlyof the rear axle. Recess 70 is not as deep as recess 68, and therebyleaves an abutment or bearing surface 72 forward of axle 28 for thepurpose hereafter described.

A hole 74 (FIG. 3) extends upwardly through abutment 72 and terminatesadjacent the center of recess 66. Hole 74 is adapted to loosely receivepin 62 and is slightly larger in diameter than the pin. Pin 62 extendsdownwardly through hole 74 and through an oversize hole in a rockinglever or bar 76 (FIGS. 37) at a point between the ends of the lever. Pin62 is formed with an enlarged head portion 78 (FIGS. 3 and 8) at thelower end thereof for holding the pin in position and preventing lever76 from moving out of engagement therewith.

When the parts are in their normal or first positions, spring 64 actsagainst the underside of action member 42 and holds the same upwardly insusbtantially its position shown in FIG. 3. Pin 62 extends into member42 for a sufiicient distance so that when member 42 is in its at-restposition, head 78 of pin 62 securely engages the undersurface of lever76 and holds the same in a substantially horizontal position as shown inFIGS. 3 and 6.

Rear axle 28 is preferably square in cross section and has a member,such as gear 80 mounted thereon. Gear 80 is formed with a square openingextending therethe wheels and gear 80 causes the lever to be moveddownwardly from its position shown in FIG. 3 to substantially itsposition shown in FIG. 5, at which point only the forward end of thelever bears against abutment 72. This downward movement of lever 76pulls pin 62 downwardly which in turn moves action member 42 and headmember 54 downwardly from their first positions shown in FIG. 3 to theirsecond positions shown in FIG. 5 against the action of spring 64. Asgear 80 continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, tooth 82amoves out of contact with lever 76, which quickly returns to itsposition against abutment 72 and the base of tooth 82b, as shown in FIG.6, through the action of spring 64 moving action member 42 and head 54upwardly. The upward movement of action member 42 is limited by eitherpin 62 acting against lever 76 which in turn bears against abutment 72or by limit pin 60, or both. However, due to the mass of head 54, andassociated parts, the head moves upwardly away from action member 42 asshown in FIG. 6. This upward movement of head 54 is limited only by theaction of gravity and the length of slot 52in boss 50.

In any event, arm portions 42 are given a regular and reciprocatingmovement through the rotation of the wheels as the toy moves forwardlyacross a supporting surface.

' In addition, head 54 moves upwardly away from the action member 42 andthen returns into contact therewith.

When the toy is moved rearwardly across a supporting surface, thewheels, and consequently gear 80, are moved in a clockwise directionshown by the arrow in FIG. 7. Teeth 82 of gear 80 engage the rear end oflever 76 and rather than lowering the rear end thereof, the teeth willraise the same as shown in FIG. 7. This movement of lever 76 causes thesame to tilt upwardly towards the rear against the rearward edge ofabutment 72 and pulls pin through and is adapted to so fit on axle 28that rotation of the axle causes the gear to rotate therewith. Member 80may be of any desired configuration, other than circular, and ispreferably formed with a series of teeth or shoulder portions 82 whichextend at a greater radial distance than the intervening portions.Although member 80 may be of any desired external configuration, otherthan circular, shoulder portions 82 must be spaced peripherally in orderfor the actuating and sound mechanism to operate, and I preferably formmember 80 in the shape of a multi-pointed gear with a limited number,such as six or eight, teeth substantially evenly spaced therearound.

As the top is moved forwardly across a supporting surface, the wheelsare caused to move in a counterclockwise direction thereby moving gear80 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5.Lever 76 is of sufficient length that the rearward edge thereof lies inthe path of movement of teeth 82 so that the rotation of 62 downwardly,as shown in FIG. 7. This downward movement of pin 62 in turn movesaction member 42 and head 54 downwardly against the action of spring 64.As the wheels are turned further in a clockwise direction, tooth 82amoves out of contact with the rear end of bar 76, thereby releasing thesame and allowing it to return to its normal, at-rest position shown inFIGS. 3 and 6. This quick release of lever 76 allows action member 42 toquickly move upwardly to its first position where it is stopped. In thesame manner as described earlier in connection with the action shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, head 54 moves on upwardly along boss 50 to a positionsubstantially as shown in FIG. 6. Of course, as the rearward movement ofthe toy continues, this same tilting and subsequent quick releasing ofmember 76 continues, thereby continuing to impart the above impetus tothe action members, as described above.

In addition to providing the desired action of the parts describedabove, my device also produces a pleasant and regular series of sounds,which simulate engine and automobile noises and are desirable in avehicle of this type. That is, as lever 76 returns to its position shownin FIGS. 3 and 6 in contact with abutment 72, and the next tooth 82b ofgear 80, a sound is produced. Further sounds are produced as head 54 iscaused to move away from and back into contact with action member 42.This latter action produces a double series of rather sharp clickingsounds, but of course the volume and tone of the sounds may be varied byvarying the relative mass of action member 42 and head 54 as well asvarying the materials from which they are made, and by other obviousmeans, such as inserting a cushioning member between the two, and thelike.

Thus, my invention provides an improved actuating and sound producingmechanism which operates when the wheels are rotated in either directionand which has a minimum number of parts which may be readily and quicklymanufactured and assembled. In addition, my improved mechanism providesnot only a first actuating member, but it has a second actuating memberwhich, while it moves in one direction with the first member, is

capable of moving independently beyond the limit of movement of saidfirst member in a second direction and which provides fascinating actionas the toy is moved along a supporting surface, such as a floor or thelike. Further, my above mechanism provides an interesting realisticsound concurrently with the action of the parts described above. Thesound producing mechanism operates without the intervention of leafsprings, as heretofore has been necessary, and produces the desired typeof sound while the toy is propelled.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects andwhile it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details ofpreferred embodiments, its to be understood that such disclosure isintended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it iscontemplated that various modifications in the construction andarrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art,within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an action toy having a body, wheels, and an axle that is rotatablein response to movement of said toy over a supporting surface, theimprovement comprising: a first action member forming a visibly movingportion of said toy and mounted for generally vertical reciprocatorymotion toward and away from a first upper limit of motion; resilientmeans for urging said first action member towards said first upper limitof motion; a lever operable in response to rotation of said axle formoving said first action member away from said first upper limit ofmotion against the bias of said resilient means and for releasing saidfirst action member for rapid upward movement under the influence ofsaid resilient means toward said first upper limit of motion; and asecond action member connected to said first action member by a lostmotion coupling, said second action member forming a second visiblymoving portion of said toy and being slidable generally verticallyrelative to said first action member to a second upper limit of motionelevated above said first upper limit of motion, said second actionmember being movable with said first action member away from and towardsaid first upper limit of motion, and said rapid movement of said firstaction member toward said first upper limit of motion impelling saidsecond action member to overtravel upward beyond said first upper limitof motion toward said second upper limit of motion.

2. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said first and second actionmembers are provided with interacting means whereby periodic contactbetween said first and second action members produces temporally relatedpercussion noises.

3. A toy according to claim 2 wherein said lever is cooperable with atoothed gear fixed to said axle and arranged for imparting said verticalmotion to said first action member upon both backward and forward motionof said toy.

4. In an action toy having a body, wheels, and an axle that is mountedfor rotation in response to movement of said toy over a supportingsurface, the improvement comprising: a first action member forming avisibly moving portion of said toy and mounted for generally verticalreciprocatory movement; a generally vertically disposed rod connected tosaid first action member; stop means for limiting the upward motion ofsaid first action member; resilient means for urging said first actionmember toward said stop means; a toothed gear fixed to said axle forrotation therewith; lever means cooperable with said rod and operable inresponse to rotation of said toothed gear for moving said rod and saidfirst action member away from said stop means against the bias of saidresilient means and for releasing said rod and said first action memberfor rapid upward movement under the influence of said resilient meanstoward said stop means; and a second action member connected to saidfirst action member by a lost motion coupling whereby said second actionmember is slidable vertically relative to said first action member to anupper limit of motion controlled by said lost motion coupling, saidsecond action member forming a visibly moving portion of said my andbeing movable with said first action member away from and towards saidstop means, and said rapid upward movement of said first action membertowards said st-op means impelling said second action member toovertravel upward beyond said stop means toward said upper limit ofmotion.

5. A toy according to claim 4 wherein said first and second actionmembers are provided with interacting means whereby periodic contactbetween said first and second action members produces temporally relatedpercussion noises.

6. A toy according to claim 5 wherein said first and second actionmembers simulate portions of a movable figure.

7. In an action toy having a body, wheels, and an axle that is mountedfor rotation in response to movement of said toy over a supportingsurface, the improvement comprising: a first action member forming avisibly moving portion of said toy and mounted for generally verticalreciprocatory movement; a generally vertically disposed rod connected toand movable with said first action member; stop means cooperating withmeans on said rod for limiting the upward motion of said rod and saidfirst action member; resilient means for urging said rod and said firstaction member toward said stop means; a toothed gear fixed to said axlefor rotation therewith; lever means cooperable with said rod andoperable in response to rotation to said toothed gear for moving saidrod and said first action member away from said stop means against thebias of said resilient means and for releasing said rod and said firstaction member for rapid upward movement under the influence of saidresilient means toward said stop means; and a second action memberconnected to said first action member by a lost motioncoupling wherebysecond action member is slidable vertically relative to said firstaction member to an upper limit of motion controlled by said lost motioncoupling, said second action member forming a visibly moving portion ofsaid toy and being movable with said first action member away from andtoward said stop means, and said rapid upward movement of said firstaction member towards said stop means impelling said second actionmember to overtravel upward beyond said stop means toward said upperlimit of motion.

8. A wheeled action toy simulating a car and driver and comprising abody, at least one axle that is mounted for rotation on said body,wheels mounted on said axle for supporting said toy for movement over asupporting surface, said body being formed with a generally upright boreand wit-h abutment means disposed at the lower end of said bore, a rodthat is mounted in said bore for sliding, reciprocatory, up and downmovement therein relative to said body, said rod being formed at itslower end with an enlarged diameter portion forming stop means andcooperating with said abutment means to limit the upward movement of therod relative to the body, a first action member simulating the arms andhands of a driver grasping a steering wheel for the car, said actionmember being secured to the upper end of the rod above the upper surfaceof the body for movement upon movement of the rod, a generally uprightpin that is mounted to project from said body ahead of said first actionmember, said first action member being formed with an opening at thecenter of the simulated steering wheel through which said pin projects,said pin and said opening being formed to permit sliding, up and downmovement of said first action member relative to the pin and to limitangular movement of said first action member and rod relative to saidbody, spring means mounted about the rod and interposed between saidfirst action member and said body constantly to urge said rod and saidfirst action member upwardly, a second action member that is mounted onsaid first action member, and that is formed to simulate the head of adriver of the car, lost motion means interconnecting said first andsecond action members to permit limited movement of said second actionmember relative to said first action member, a toothed member that ismounted on said axle for rotation on rotation of the axle, and a leverthat is formed with an opening intermediate its ends and that isdisposed with the lower end of said rod passing through said opening,said opening being proportioned to permit limited sliding movement ofthe lever relative to the rod intermediate said abutment means on saidbody and said stop means at the lower end of the rod, said lever havingone of its ends disposed to be engaged by said toothed member uponrotation of said axle, to cause an up and down movement of said rod, tocause reciprocatory movement of said action members, and to permitovertravel of said second action member relative to said first actionmemher and relative to said rod.

9. A wheeled action toy comprising a body, at least one axle that ismounted for rotation on said body, wheels mounted on said axle forsupporting said toy for movement over a supporting surface, said bodybeing formed with a generally upright bore and with abutment meansdisposed at the lower end of said bore, a rod that is mounted in saidbore for sliding, reciprocatory, up and down movement therein relativeto said body, said rod being provided adjacent its lower end with stopmeans cooperating with said abutment means to limit the upward movementof the rod relative to the body, a first action member secured to theupper end of the rod above the upper surface of the body for movementupon movement of the rod, spring means mounted about the rod andintetrposed between said first action member and said body constantly tourge said rod and said first action member upwardly, a second actionmember that is mounted on said first action member, lost motion meansinterconnecting said first and second action members to permit limitedmovement of said second action member relative to said first actionmember, a toothed member that is mounted on said axle for rotation onrotation of the axle, and a lever that is formed with an openingintermediate its ends and that is disposed with the lower end of saidrod passing through said opening, said opening being proportioned topermit limited sliding movement of the lever relative to the rodintermediate said abutment means on said body and said stop means at thelower end of the rod, said lever having one of its ends disposed to beengaged by said toothed member upon rotation of said axle, to cause anup and down movement of said rod, to cause reciprocatory movement ofsaid action members, and to permit overtravel of said second actionmember relative to said first action member and relative to said rod.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD C.PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN ACTION TOY HAVING A BODY, WHEELS, AND AN AXLE THAT IS ROTATABLEIN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID TOY OVER A SUPPORTING SURFACE, THEIMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A FIRST ACTION MEMBER FORMING A VISIBLY MOVINGPORTION OF SAID TOY AND MOUNTED FOR GENERALLY VERTICAL RECIPROCATORYMOTION TOWARD AND AWAY FROM A FIRST UPPER LIMIT OF MOTION; RESILIENTMEANS FOR URGING SAID FIRST ACTION MEMBER TOWARDS SAID FIRST UPPR LIMITOF MOTION; A LEVER OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID AXLE FORMOVING SAID FIRST ACTION MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID FIRST UPPER LIMIT OFMOTION AGAINST THE BIAS OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS AND FOR RELEASING SAIDFIRST ACTION MEMBER FOR RAPID UPWARD MOVEMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OFSAID RESILIENT MEANS TOWARD SAID FIRST UPPER LIMIT OF MOTION; AND ASECOND ACTION MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST ACTION MEMBER BY A LOSTMOTION COUPLING, SAID SECOND ACTION MEMBER FORMING A SECOND VISIBLYMOVING PORTION OF SAID TOY AND BEING SLIDABLE GENERALLY VERTICALLYRELATIVE TO SAID FIRST ACTION MEMBER TO A SECOND UPPER LIMIT OF MOTIONELEVATED ABOVE SAID FIRST UPPER LIMIT OF MOTION, SAID SECOND ACTIONMEMBER BEING MOVABLE WITH SAID FIRST ACTION MEMBER AWAY FROM AND TOWARDSAID FIRST UPPER LIMIT OF MOTION, AND SAID RAPID MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRSTACTION MEMBER TOWARD SAID FIRST UPPER LIMIT OF MOTION IMPELLING SAIDSECOND ACTION MEMBER TO OVERTRAVEL UPWARD BEYOND SAID FIRST UPPER LIMITOF MOTION TOWARD SAID SECOND UPPER LIMIT OF MOTION.